ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Special Service and Features
Tamil Nadu Governor Shri R N Ravi holds meeting with Vice-Chancellors of State Universities
Thiru R. N. Ravi, Hon’ble Governor-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu held his first meeting with the Vice-Chancellors of State Universities at Raj Bhavan, Chennai today .
Hon’ble Governor-Chancellor witnessed power point presentations about State Universities presented by the Vice-Chancellors. The presentations briefly about Universities and their achievements. The Senior Secretaries of State Government also briefed the Hon’ble Governor-Chancellor about the status of State Universities and how the State Government has been helping them with resources including Financial Assistance.
In his address the Hon’ble Governor-Chancellor appreciated the State of Tamil Nadu for having 20 State Universities. He also appreciated the impressive Gross Enrolment Ratio in the State. As the Higher Education of the State has expanded significantly, Hon’ble Governor urged the Vice-Chancellors to focus on academic excellence and quality research. He suggested the Vice-Chancellors to have an honest appraisal of the strengths and weakness of their Universities so as to harness the strengths and work on the weaknesses. He stressed the need for quality research and publication in peer-reviewed journals.
The Hon’ble Governor also said that Universities do both knowledge dissemination through teaching and knowledge creation through research and insisted on the need for continuous improvement of knowledge creation to assure quality in higher education. The Hon’ble Governor also advised the Vice-Chancellors to ensure quality in recruitment of teaching faculty.
The Hon’ble Governor appreciated the way the Government of Tamil Nadu has been helping the Universities particularly in mitigating their financial distress and urged the Government to nudge the Universities for enhancing the quality of education and research.
During the meeting, all the Vice-Chancellors, Registrar and Senior Secretaries from the State Government participated. Thiru Anandrao V.Patil, I.A.S. Secretary to Governor welcomed the gathering and Thiru C.Muthukumaran, Deputy Secretary to Governor  proposed the vote of thanks.
The above details are stated in a press release issued by the Raj Bhavan.
Prime Minister's Office
PM to address on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will deliver a video address on the occasion of World Youth Skills Day tomorrow. The day marks the 5th anniversary of the launch of Skill India Mission. A Digital Conclave is being organized by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship to mark the occasion.
Background
Skill India is an initiative of the Government of India which has been launched to empower the youth of the country with skill sets which make them more employable and more productive in their work environment. Skill India offers courses across several sectors which are aligned to the standards recognised by both, the industry and the government under the National Skill Qualification Framework. The courses help a person focus on practical delivery of work and help him enhance his technical expertise so that he is ready for day one of his job and companies don’t have to invest into training him for his job profile.
Ministry of Defence
MISSION SAGAR - 10 MAY 2020
As part of the Government of India outreach amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Naval Ship Kesari has departed for Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros, to provide Food Items, COVID related Medicines including HCQ Tablets and Special Ayurvedic Medicines with Medical Assistance Teams embarked, on 10 May 20. This deployment as ‘Mission Sagar’, is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the region and builds on the excellent relations existing between these countries to battle the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant difficulties.
The deployment is in consonance with the Prime Ministers vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region ‘SAGAR’ and highlights the importance accorded by India to relations with her neighbouring countries and further strengthens the existing bond. The operation is being progressed in close coordination with the Ministries of Defence and External Affairs, and other agencies of the Government of India.
As part of Mission Sagar, Indian Naval Ship Kesari would enter the Port of Male in Republic of Maldives, to provide them 600 tons of food provisions. India and Maldives are close maritime neighbours with strong and extremely cordial defence and diplomatic relations.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves MoU between India and Israel on Cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding  between India and Israel on cooperation in the Oil and Gas Sector.
The MoU is expected to provide impetus to India - Israel ties in the energy sector. The cooperation envisaged under the agreement will facilitate promotion of investments in each other's countries, technology transfer, R&D, conducting joint studies, capacity building of human resources and collaboration in the area of Start-ups.
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Ministry of Culture
Second Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy Memorial Lecture to be held tomorrow on ‘Towards Decolonizing Indian Art History via the Problem of Mimesis in the Citrasutra’
Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts  is going to organise Second Ananda Coomaraswamy Memorial Lecture on 6th October, 2023 the topic ‘Towards Decolonizing Indian Art History via the Problem of Mimesis in the Citrasutra’ to commemorate the 76th Death Anniversary of A.K. Coomaraswamy. Prof. Parul Dave Mukherji, School of Arts & Aesthetics, JNU, New Delhi and the session will be chaired by Prof. Sachchidanand Joshi, Member Secretary, IGNCA, New Delhi.
Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was one of the pioneering art historians of the 20th century whose art-historic writing is an intellectual landmark due to its interpretative eloquence and ardent advocacy in favour of the indigenous roots of Indian art. He remains a unique and inspiring scholar and author across the many fields of study he made his own.
With this view in mind, IGNCA is organising the second Memorial Lecture titled ‘Towards Decolonizing Indian Art History via the Problem of Mimesis in the Citrasutra’ by Prof. Parula Dave Mukherji to acknowledge the critical and comprehensive work done by Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy in the field of art and culture. In 2008, IGNCA acquired his collection of books, art objects and paintings , photographs and his correspondences with Indian and Western philosophers, historians, church chroniclers/historians, curators and friends, from his legal heir. He was the first to recognize and condemn the far-reaching consequences of the Macaulayite education system.
The study of Indian art history initiated between the mid-19th and early 20th century by Western scholars applied European norms and methodology to Indian art. More recently, this Eurocentric bias has diminished. Increased familiarity with objects of Indian art and their aesthetic language has led to attempts to understand and explain such objects from the point of view of those for whom they were made.
The talk aims to develop the idea of decolonizing Indian art history through this theory and a new engagement with the visual arts of early India. What does decolonising Indian art history mean today? This question will be addressed by revisiting an overlooked theory of Indian aesthetics, anukarana vada or the theory of performative mimesis.
Ministry of Micro,Small & Medium Enterprises
All Stakeholders Must Adopt an Integrated Approach to Come over the Crisis: Shri Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister for MSME and Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari today interacted via video conferencing with the representatives of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry  on impact of COVID-19 on MSMEs owned by SC-ST entrepreneurs. During this interaction, the representatives of DICCI expressed concerns regarding various challenges being faced by SC-ST MSMEs amid COVID-19 pandemic along with few suggestions and requested support from the government to keep the sector afloat.
Shri Gadkari called upon the industry that it is needed to be ensured by industries that necessary preventive measures are taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He emphasized on usage of PPE  and advised to maintain social distancing norms during business operations.
The Union Minister mentioned that there is need to focus on export enhancement as well as import substitution to replace foreign imports with domestic production. He added that industry should focus more on innovation, entrepreneurship, science and technology, research skill and experiences to convert the knowledge into wealth. He further said that in order to gain competitiveness in the international markets, the industry must focus on reducing logistic cost, capital cost, power and production cost without compromising with the quality.
The Minister recalled that Government of Japan has offered special package to its industries for taking out Japanese investments from China and move elsewhere. He opined that it is an opportunity for India which should be grabbed.
He further mentioned that work on Green Express Highway has already started, and this is an opportunity for industry to make future investments in industrial clusters, logistics parks equipped with state-of-art technology. He opined that there is a need to expand the horizon of industrial cluster in areas other than metro cities and urged industries for participation.
Some of the major issues highlighted by the DICCI and the suggestions given support SC-ST entrepreneurs included: further extension of moratorium, additional GST exemption, enhance working capital loan limit, easy access to credit, inclusion of service sector in Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme, decentralization of industries etc.
Shri Gadkari responded to the questions from representatives and assured all possible help from the government. He informed that he would take up the issues with related departments. He mentioned said that all stakeholders must adopt an integrated approach to come over the crisis and urged the industry to have a positive attitude during this time to tide over this crisis.
Shri Nitin Gadkari had also addressed a webinar yesterday on e-unveiling of FLO Compendium of 100 Successful Women Entrepreneurs in MSME, organized by FICCI Ladies Organisation  where issues pertaining to women entrepreneurs were discussed and their suggestions were noted.
Ministry of Agriculture &
Farmers Welfare
Formation of FPOs
The Government of India has launched the Central Sector Scheme for “Formation and Promotion of 10,000 Farmer Producer Organizations” in the year 2020 with a total budgetary outlay of Rs.6865 Crores which will leverage economies of scale, reduction of cost of production and enhancing farmers’ incomes thus playing a major role towards increasing the income of farmers. Under the scheme, the FPOs are to be developed in produce clusters, wherein agricultural and horticultural produce is grown / cultivated for leveraging economies of scale and improving market access for members. Formation & Promotion of FPOs are to be done through Implementing Agencies , which further engage Cluster Based Business Organizations  to form & provide professional handholding support to FPOs for a period of 5 years.
So far, a total of 8716 FPOs produce clusters have been allocated to Implementing Agencies for formation of FPOs out of which a total of 3179 no. of FPOs have been registered.
FPOs will be provided financial assistance upto Rs 18.00 lakh per FPO for a period of 03 years. In addition to this, provision has been made for matching equity grant upto Rs. 2,000 per farmer member of FPO with a limit of Rs. 15.00 lakh per FPO and a credit guarantee facility upto Rs. 2 crore of project loan per FPO from eligible lending institution to ensure institutional credit accessibility to FPOs. Suitable provisions have been made for training and skill development of FPOs.
The Small and Marginal Farmers  face some challenges both in production and post-production stages like access to production technology, quality inputs at reasonable prices, credit, custom hiring, seed production, value addition, processing, investments and most importantly market access.
Considering the aforesaid constraints being encountered by small and marginal farmers, experiences gained from the existing FPOs and suggestions received during stakeholders` consultation process, the Central Sector Scheme of Formation and Promotion of 10,000 FPOs was conceptualized.
Under the said scheme, a professional agency named as Cluster Based Business Organization  is to prepare a business plan with participation of farmer – members. The business plan will cover the entire end to end value chain including those of production, post production, marketing, value addition and exports etc.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Narendra Singh Tomar in a written reply in Lok Sabha Today.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves extension of Scheme of Recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks upto 2019-20
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the extension of the scheme of recapitalization of Regional Rural Banks  for the next three years i.e. upto 2019-20. This will enable the RRBs to maintain the minimum prescribed Capital to Risk Weighted Assets Ratio  of 9 per cent.
Impact:
A strong capital structure and minimum required level of CRAR will ensure financial stability of RRBs which will enable them to play a greater role in financial inclusion and meeting the credit requirements of rural areas.
Details:
There are 56 RRBs functioning in the country. As on 31st March, 2017, the total credit given by RRBs is Rs.2,28,599 crore, of which the credit under key categories is as under: -
|
|
Particulars
|
|
Credit Amount 
|
|
%age to total credit
|
|
Total Priority Sector Lending 
|
|
2,05,122
|
|
89.73%
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|
Agriculture 
|
|
1,54,322
|
|
67.51%
|
|
Small & marginal farmers 
|
|
1,02,791
|
|
44.97%

The scheme of Recapitalization of RRBs started in FY 2010-11 and was extended twice in the year 2012-13 and 2015-16. The last extension was upto 31.03.2017. A total amount of Rs. 1107.20 crore, as Gol share, out of Rs.1450 crore, has been released to RRBs upto 31st March, 2017. The remaining amount of Rs.342.80 crore will be utilized to provide recapitalization support to RRBs whose CRAR is below 9%, during the years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20.
The identification of RRBs requiring recapitalization and the amount of capital to be provided, will be decided in consultation with NABARD.
This is in addition to the announcement made in Finance Minister's Budget Speech for 2018-19 relating to allowing financially strong RRBs to raise capital from sources other than Gol, State Government and Sponsor Bank.
Background:
RRBs were set up with the objective to provide credit and other facilities, especially to the small and marginal farmers, agricultural labourers, artisans and small entrepreneurs in rural areas for development of agriculture, trade, commerce, industry and other productive activities. RRBs are jointly owned by Government of India, the concerned State Government and Sponsor Banks with the issued capital shared in the proportion of 50%, 15% and 35% respectively.
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Shri Dharmendra Pradhan Puts BS-VI Rollout on Fast Track; Holds Preparatory Meeting With Officials
Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas & Steel Shri Dharmendra Pradhan today held a preparatory meeting with senior officials from the ministry and public sector undertakings. He reviewed the preparations and instructed officials to accelerate the efforts, in wake of the planned country-wide rollout of BS-VI on 1st April 2020.
Shri Pradhan said that this bold step to leapfrog from BS-IV to BS-VI grade fuel is a testimony of Modi Government’s efforts towards achieving the commitments made at COP 21. It is also part of an overall strategy to improve ease of living for citizens. He also said that this rollout will be with the spirit of the Government to dedicate “HarKaamDeshKeNaam.”
BS-VI, which is comparable with CNG in terms of providing clean energy, is expected to bring down sulphur level by 5 times from the BS-IV levels. This will go a long way in mitigating the problem of air pollution and improving air quality.
YB
Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh & US Secretary of Defence Mr Lloyd Austin hold talks in New Delhi
Review the robust defence cooperation activities; Focus on co-development of new technologies and co-production
Roadmap concluded for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation for next few years
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with US Secretary of Defence Mr Lloyd Austin in New Delhi on June 05, 2023. The meeting was warm and cordial. The two sides discussed a substantial range of bilateral defence cooperation issues, with particular focus on identifying ways to strengthen industrial cooperation.
The two Ministers explored ways of building resilient supply chains. Both sides will identify opportunities for co-development of new technologies and co-production of existing & new systems and facilitate increased collaboration between defence start-up ecosystems of the two countries. Towards these objectives, they concluded a roadmap for US-India Defence Industrial Cooperation which shall guide the policy direction for the next few years.
Both sides reviewed the robust and multifaceted bilateral defence cooperation activities and agreed to maintain the momentum of engagement. They welcomed the inaugural dialogues held recently focusing on Defence Artificial Intelligence and Defence Space. They also discussed the regional security issues given their shared interest in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Senior officials from Ministry of Defence, including Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman Defence Research and Development Organisation  Dr Samir V Kamat, participated in the meeting.
The delegation-level talks were preceded by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour to Secretary Austin. The US Secretary of Defence arrived in New Delhi on June 04, 2023 on a two-day visit.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Blood Banks in Remote Areas
Government of India has formulated a policy for set up of at least one Blood Bank in every District. Public Health, being a State subject, it is the primary responsibility of the State Government to ensure the establishment of Blood Banks as per their need. However, support is provided to States/UTs to strengthen their healthcare system including strengthening existing blood banks/establishing new blood banks based on the proposals submitted by the States through National Health Mission. This includes six districts of Jharkhand namely Sarai Kela, Khunti, Jamtara, Godda, Ramgarh and Bokaro. In the State of Jharkhand, Blood Storage Units are also functional in the remote and rural areas in CHC and Referral Hospital.
The National Blood Transfusion Council and the Blood Transfusion Councils in each State function as the mechanism aimed at coordinating between the Government on the one side and public sector voluntary organizations, and the private sector on the other. The National Blood Transfusion Council and State Blood Transfusion Council, in collaboration with public sector voluntary organizations, professional associations and private entities, etc does advocacy for Voluntary Blood Donation, organizes local and pan-India blood donation drives and does Information Education and Communication activities.
National Blood Policy prohibits the sale and purchase of blood since it is a voluntarily donated commodity of human origin. Only licensed blood banks are permitted for collection, processing, storage and transportation of blood and blood components. At licensed blood banks, safety and quality of blood and blood components is ensured by the Food and Drugs Authority at State and National level through licensing and periodic inspections. All licensed blood banks are instructed to follow the guidelines for processing charges for blood and blood components and not levy any additional charges. They are also directed to display the charges prominently in the blood bank premises for public viewing. All hospitals are instructed to obtain blood only from licensed blood banks against such approved processing charges.
The Minister of State , Sh Ashwini Kumar Choubey stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha here today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM pays homage to soldiers on Kargil Vijay Diwas
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has paid homage to all those who lost their lives in Kargil protecting our nation on Kargil Vijay Diwas.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said;
"We remember their sacrifices.
We remember their valour.
Today, on Kargil Vijay Diwas we pay homage to all those who lost their lives in Kargil protecting our nation. Their bravery motivates us every single day.
Also sharing an excerpt from last year’s ’Mann Ki Baat.’ "
Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
PIB, Goa organises webinar on ‘Women in Leadership’ to celebrate the Nari Shakti on International Women’s Day
Women in New India can achieve greater heights by listening their inner-voice: Dr Pratibha, Nari Shakti Award winner Social Scientist
To Bring Changes women needs to be at prominent place in policy-making: Diviya Kapur, Entrepreneur
Goa, March 08, 2021
Press Information Bureau, Goa in co-ordination with Regional Outreach Bureau, Maharashtra and Goa organised a webinar to celebrate Nari Shakti on International Women’s Day. Nari Shakti Award winner and Social Scientist, Dr Pratibha and Entrepreneur Diviya Kapur shared their views on ‘Women in Leadership’.
Dr Pratibha, working at grassroots level, narrated her experiences about Women in society. She said, fine balance culture is needed in the society. To break the barriers, she appealed to Women to Overcome all the limitations and break free, listen to their inner-voice and learn to love oneself. Struggle is reduced but not over. Paradigm shift needed towards Women.
In the context of State of Goa, she said there is very much secure work environment in Goa. Being a tourist destination, more and more women entrepreneurs should come forward with new ideas as government is there to help out, she further said.
In every sphere of life, including various professions, women's contributions are very much visible. However, the gender balance seems to be missing in a few organizations that needs the attention, said Dr. Pratibha. New Indian women take new India on greater heights, she said in her closing remarks.
Diviya Kapur, entrepreneur putting her thoughts said, Women must work at policy maker level. Women in decision making role will bring more equality, that will bring more balance. She advised young entrepreneurs to figure out their passion and priorities. She praised young generation for taking new challenges as Entrepreneurs.
Women are an integral part of most workforce in the world. While some are breaking barriers, still there needs more equality, she added.
Deputy Director, D.V.Vinodkumar welcomed the guests and highlighted the theme of the webinar, and how women shoulder disproportionate loads during the COVID Pandemic. Oreena Vaz from All India Radio compered the programme.